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Lionel Messi has just been honoured in a very big way, with what's believed to be the world's largest statue of the football legend
Standing a whopping 26m (85ft) tall and weighing around 70 tonnes, the giant monument was unveiled in Cutral Co, a town in Argentina's Patagonia region, ahead of Argentina's World Cup group stage match against Austria.
Created by local artist Aldo Beroisa over 18 months, the statue recreates one of Messi's most iconic moments from the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he drops to his knees in triumph while clutching his Argentina jersey after leading the country to glory.
It's a huge tribute to one of football's greatest ever players.
But, as always, the Internet had something else to say
Almost immediately after photos of the statue surfaced online, people noticed one rather… interesting design choice.
While Messi's upper body is painted in Argentina's famous blue-and-white jersey, the lower half of the statue is left plain white, making it appear as if he's forgotten to put on his shorts from certain angles.
To make matters even funnier, a giant replica of the World Cup trophy is positioned directly in front of him… right between his legs.
Let's just say, the visual effect is hard to miss
Despite the online roasting, the statue is expected to become a major tourist attraction for Cutral Co, a town of around 35,000 people better known for its oil and petrochemical industry than football pilgrimages
For sculptor Aldo Beroisa, the monument was always about celebrating one of Argentina's greatest icons.
"He is Argentina's natural ambassador. For me, it was very important, not only as an artist but as an Argentine," the 61-year-old told The Associated Press.
Messi himself also acknowledged the tribute in a video message sent to the creators, saying, "Crazy… thank you very much to all of you, to the people who supported it, who came by, and who keep coming by."
Argentina unveils giant Lionel Messi statue in Patagonia during World Cup pic.twitter.com/dfx9cPKV7H
— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) June 25, 2026
World's Tallest Lionel Messi Statue Unveiled in Argentina as a Historic Tribute pic.twitter.com/mY4OQeC3nD
— 𝕏 Ali Al Samahi 🇦🇪علي السماحي (@alsamahi) June 24, 2026
